Dili, October 23, 2024 (Média Democracia) – Dorafania Martins Colo, 9 years old, study at Roti Elementary School, now she is in third grade, she comes from Oe-Cusse, in her free time she shares her time with her father to come to Dili to run a business.
According to Dorafania, during her two-week school holiday, she decided with her father to come to Dili to run a small business, like selling mangoes and coffee on the roadside in order to earn some money to meet her living needs.
“We currently live in Bebonuk, every day I always sell mangoes and coffee on the side of the road, but the mangoes we sell have to be bought from other people, then we cut them into pieces and put them in plastic and we sell them on the side of the road.” Dorafania said.
She continued, the mangoes she sold were in two plastic bags at a price of 0.25 cents to make it easier for people to buy quickly because in Farol park, Motael, in front of the Palace until Largo Lecidere there were many traders who also sold on the roadside.
“During the school holidays, my father and I came to Dili for two weeks, so I decided that every day I had to sell mangoes. Every day I could sell it for $6.50, and every morning after breakfast at 8:00 I started walking to sell mangoes from Bebonuk through Pante-Kelapa to Largo Lecidere, so the mangoes I sold were always sold out, and we could use the money to pay for boat tickets to go back to Oe-Cusse, some of which I gave to my parents to meet our daily needs.” She said.
She added that even though she was just walking while selling mangoes, she did not feel tired or bored because the mangoes she sold every day were always sold out so she felt happy. When the holidays were over, she had to return to Oe-Cusse to go to school as usual.
“We are four siblings consisting of two girls and two boys, I have a beautiful dream, which is to become a doctor so that I can save the lives of patients in the hospital. Even though I live in a simple family, I still try to study at school and other places because to become a better person, I must be ready to face all obstacles.” She added.
To be clearer, Dorefania is the third of four siblings, and she likes to help her father with business, such as selling mangoes, so she can earn extra money to meet her daily needs.
Reported by : Nelfiano
Photo : Nelfiano